Discover Montevago: History, Landscapes and Wine

Montevago combines archaeological traces, sacred buildings, unusual landscapes and the wine culture of the Valle del Belìce. Those who do not want to limit a trip to Sicily to just one type of excursion will find a range of themes in a compact area: the historic town centre, places commemorating the 1968 earthquake, karst caves, a calcarenite plateau and a wine tourism route. This makes it possible to choose a hotel in Montevago according to the interests that are to shape your trip.

History in the Town Centre and along the S.S. 188

The historic town centre of Montevago follows a planned orthogonal layout. Rectangular blocks of houses and large inner courtyards, known as “patii”, define this distinctive urban structure. The Percorsi Visivi offer another way to explore the town’s history: the open-air museum trail shows what Montevago looked like before the 1968 earthquake. Visitors who want to understand historical development not only through individual buildings but also through the transformation of an entire town can therefore consider two different perspectives.

The Cathedral of Montevago is located at Piano della Matrice. It was built by the Gravina family between the 17th and 19th centuries and is dedicated to the Apostles Peter and Paul. The church of Villaggio Bergamo tells a different story. It is also dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul; the village and the church were built and donated by the city of Bergamo after the 1968 earthquake in the Belice area.

The Contrada Caliata area along the S.S. 188 is of archaeological interest. It lies two kilometres from the old settlement of Montevago in the direction of Partanna. Remains of a Muslim farmstead from three different phases were identified there. Those who include this site in their itinerary therefore encounter not just a single archaeological find, but a settlement history documented across several periods.

Caves, Plateau and Rugged Landscapes

The landscape around Montevago is particularly evident in the Bosco Magaggiaro. The forest covers an extensive calcarenite plateau that slopes towards the southeast. In the west, it is crossed by deep fissures extending to the foothills of the Belice River. This description makes Bosco Magaggiaro a distinctive landscape theme for anyone who does not want to separate geological formations and nature during their trip to Sicily.

A few kilometres from Montevago, along the road to Menfi, lies the Grotta dei Personaggi. The karst cave has a branching system of passages, fissures, shafts and galleries. Many of the caves of San Nicola have been cleaned and prepared so that visitors can explore them easily. Different forms of cave experience are therefore central here: the branching underground structure of the Grotta dei Personaggi and the visitor-accessible caves of San Nicola.

The route from the Montevago high plateau to the Fonte Sacra also passes through a wild, rugged landscape. Difficult paths run between rocks and typical vegetation, while a broad valley opens out at the same time. This route therefore represents an excursion in which the landscape itself is the main attraction, rather than merely the connection to a single destination.

Wine and Regional Discoveries

Montevago is also part of the Strada del Vino Terre Sicane. The wine tourism route passes through Contessa Entellina, Menfi, Montevago, Sambuca di Sicilia, Santa Margherita di Belice and Sciacca. At the XXVIII Festa del Vino di Montevago in 2025, wines from the Valle del Belìce were tasted. These two details show different sides of the topic: the route connects several municipalities, while the festival presented wine explicitly in Montevago itself.

When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore first consider which focus you would like to pursue: local history and sacred buildings, landscapes and caves, or wine towns in the Valle del Belìce. Montevago provides a destination base from which you can organise your further research according to your preferred travel theme. As an additional contrast to the cultural and landscape experiences, Terme Acqua Pia offers outdoor pools and thermal water.

More Destinations in Sicily

If you would like to compare other Sicilian destinations in addition to Montevago, you can also research Santo Stefano Quisquina, Santa Margherita Di Belice, Campobello Di Licata, Sant'anna, Joppolo Giancaxio, Sambuca Di Sicilia, Torre di Gaffe and Villaggio Mosè.

For the overarching travel overview: Agrigento.